The Common Press offers private hire at its two London sites for launches, workshops, panel discussions, filming, parties and social gatherings. The Shoreditch shop on Bethnal Green Road takes 70 people standing or 45 seated on the ground floor, and the Dalston shop on Stoke Newington Road takes up to 250 across two floors. This listing covers the Shoreditch bookshop, with the Dalston option described alongside.
Seminars and company events
The Common Press describes itself as a not-for-profit queer community venue, a bookshop with a café and bar. Its hire offer is aimed at book events, open mic nights, panel discussions, filming, workshops, launches and parties. For an organizer, that means a relaxed setting for a product launch, a staff social, a panel evening or a half-day workshop, in a space that stocks more than 7,000 books.
Hire is sold in three time slots: a full day from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, a half day from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, and an evening from 6:30 pm to 2:00 am. A late license is available at both branches. Hire includes the room, staffing, chairs, tables and an audiovisual setup. A sound technician is not included.
Weddings and receptions
The official text does not mention weddings. Receptions are possible in the form of parties and social gatherings, within the capacities below.
Rooms and capacities
Shoreditch, at 118 Bethnal Green Road near Brick Lane, holds 70 people standing or 45 seated on the ground floor. Equipment on site is speakers, a PA system, and the café and bar.
Dalston, at 97 Stoke Newington Road, holds 250 people in total. The ground floor takes 150 standing or 80 seated, and the basement takes 100 standing or 60 seated. Equipment includes speakers, a PA system, DJ decks and the café and bar.
Extras can be added to a hire. DJ decks are available, with a Pioneer XDJ-RX controller system running Rekordbox. A bar with staffing can be arranged on request, as can a sound technician by the hour and a security staff member.
Catering
The café and bar operate on site, and a staffed bar is available on request for private hire. The official text does not describe food packages for events, so ask the team what can be served.
History and setting
The Common Press opened in 2021 as a queer bookshop and community hub, and describes itself as Black, queer and trans owned. It runs a regular program of book clubs, live music, workshops and club nights, so a hire takes place in a space used to hosting groups. The Shoreditch shop sits by Brick Lane in East London, and the Dalston shop sits at the junction of Dalston and Stoke Newington.
Getting there
Both shops are in East and North London, in Shoreditch by Brick Lane and in Dalston near Stoke Newington. The official pages do not name a nearest station, so check the route for your guests when you send your request.
